Rijiju Replies to Kharge on Delimitation Bill and House Prorogation

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has written to Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president, in reply to Kharge’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an all-party meeting before the Delimitation Constitutional Amendment is taken up in Parliament. In the letter dated October 19, 2026, Rijiju said he wanted to “place on record the facts” about the government’s efforts to engage with the Opposition on the subject.

No Fixed Deadline to Prorogue the House

Kharge had pointed out that Parliament has not been prorogued even though 64 days have passed since the House was adjourned sine die on August 13, 2026. Rijiju said there is no constitutional requirement setting a period within which a House must be prorogued after it is adjourned sine die, and that a longer gap does not by itself amount to any constitutional or procedural irregularity.

He listed earlier instances when Houses stayed unprorogued for long periods, up to 87 days. In 2008, the Lok Sabha sat on July 21 and 22 for the confidence motion, was not prorogued, reconvened on October 17 and was adjourned on October 24 to meet again on December 10. He also cited gaps of 76 days in 1987, 54 days in 1989, 49 days in 2006 and 2013, and 41 days in 1963.

Letters and Meetings With the Congress

Rijiju said the government has consistently sought the Opposition’s support for the Delimitation Amendment Bill and has reached out to the Congress as the principal Opposition party several times. He said he wrote to Kharge on March 16, March 26 and April 12, 2026, discussed the matter with him in person, and met Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, during the Monsoon Session to seek his cooperation.

According to the letter, the Congress did not give dates for a discussion despite repeated requests.

Talks With DMK, SP, BJD and Others

The minister said the government then held consultations with representatives of the DMK, Samajwadi Party, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM and BJD to build a broader consensus on the proposed legislation. He said it was “not clear” why the demand for consultation was being repeated, and that what is now needed is “constructive cooperation” from the Opposition.

Rijiju said the government remains committed to parliamentary democracy and to meaningful dialogue in Parliament, and expressed hope that the Congress would “not obstruct important future legislations”.

The exchange of letters comes as the government prepares to bring the delimitation amendment before Parliament. Earlier coverage of electoral legislation is in our report on the Aadhaar–voter list bill, and more political news is on our Daily Updates page.